Fluid control valve mechanism for fluid pressure operated rotary or turret type laundry presses



Aprll 28, 1953 R. P. GUDGEON 2,636,292

FLUID CONTROL VALVE MECHANISM FOR FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED ROTARY OR TURRET TYPE LAUNDRY PRESSES Filed Feb. 27, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY April 28, 1953 P. GUDGEON OPERATED ROTARY OR TURRET TYPE LAUNDRY PRESSES Filed Feb. 27, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L/QM ATTORNEY April 28, 1953 R P, GUDGEON 2,636,292

FLUID CONTROL VALVE MECHANISM FOR FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED ROTARY OR TURRET TYPE LAUNDRY PRESSES Filed Feb. 27, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNE Patented Apr. 28, I1953 FLUID CONTROL VALVE MEoHANIsM FOR FLUID PRESSURE .OPERATED RoTARY R TURRET TYrE LAUNDRY PREssEs Ronald Percy Gudgeon, Luton, England Application February 27, 1948, Serial No. 11,802

In Great-Britain January 5, 1945 f l The present invention relates to the pressure control of laundry or other presses, and more particularly though not exclusively to that type ofpress in which a pair of tables rotate about a centre column into position below a press head.

Normally, in the known types of laundry press the uid pressure for operating the arm lifting the' table to the headvis operated by a tappet mounted on the arms supporting the tablesand which when the table arrives below the pressure head strikes and depresses a plunger which operates a valve to expose the ram cylinder to pressure. When it is desired to release the table, a foot lever is depressed which action opens a second valve permitting the exhausting of the Vpressure and consequential descent of the table. After exhaust from the ram cylinder and descent of the table, the tables are once more rotated about the column, thus closing the control valve to the ramcylinder until the other table comes into position and its tappet strikes the plunger controlling: said valve.

An object of the present invention is to provide mechanism in which not only are the aforesaid valves all arranged in one valve housing but the action of opening and closingthe main control valve andl the exhaust valve is automatic with rotation-of Vthe tables about the column.

Broadly the invention comprisesl a uid pressure control comprising a valve'member adapted to be reciprocated in a valve housing, ports leading into said valve housing connecting with conduits leading to exhaust and to an operating ram or other point respectively, said ports being so lpositioned with respect to the valve member that with the said member at one end of its `stroke the uid pressure medium which is led into the valve housing at a convenient point is fed to the ram or other desired point and with the said member at the other end of its stroke the supply of uid pressure medium is shut off and the ram cylinder or other point is connected to the exhaust port.

According to the present invention the fluid pressure control for elevating the table of a laundry or other press of the type in which a table or tables is or are rotated about a centre to be brought underneath and away from a press head, for instance as illustrated in my simultaneously led application now issued as Patent No. 2,609,624, dated September 9, 1952, comprises a valve member adapted to be reciprocated in a valve housing, ports in the wall of said Valve housing connecting with conduits leading to exhaust and to the table operating ram respectively,

4 1 claim. (ci. ca -22) 2 said ports being so positioned with respect to th valve member' that with the said member at one end of its stroke the fluid pressure medium which is led into the valve housing at any convenient point is fed tothe table ram and with the said member at the other end of its stroke the supply of fluid pressure medium is shut off and the table ram exhausted. f

Conveniently the position of the valve member is selectedv automatically by the position of the table or tables of the press. Manual control means are also provided for moving the valve member from the pressure delivery position to .the exhaust position, the valve member being exposed continuously to the pressure of the fluid pressure medium so that it tends to move to that end of its stroke which connects the pressure supply to the table ram cylinder.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

`Figure 1 shows in side elevation partly insecltion a iiuid pressure control according to the present invention applied to a twin table laundry press;

Figure 2 shows on an enlarged scale a, section of the control unit;

Figure 3 shows in section an alternative con struction of control unit; and

Figure 4 shows an"application of this unit to a twin table rotary laundry press.

Referring to the drawings a pair ofv tablesfno shown) are mounted upon a centre column I in known manner to be positioned in turn below a press head (also not shown). Column I, representative of a rotative` part of the table structure so far as involved herein, carries a collar member 2 the upper surface of which forms a cam 'surface 3 upon which rides a cam roller 4, this cam roller being a specic form of cam rider generally. The roller 4 is carried by one arm 5 of -a threearmed spider lever 6 pivoted to a stationary ypart of the press at 1. A second arm 8 is connected by a rod 9 to a foot lever I0 which is spring loaded so as to urge the roller 4 into engagement with the cam surface 3. The third arm II of the spider carries a tappet member I2 which bears against a valve spindle I3 the lower end of which is formed into a double valve member I4 sliding within a, valve housing I5. The cam and cam rider constitute an indexing device with spider lever 6, tappet I2 and foot lever I 0 with its spring loading constituting valve-operating means.

The valve housing I5 is provided at its lower end with a port I6 which 1s connected via suitable conduit I1 to a source of fluid pressure for example compressed air. To adjust the rate of supply of the compressed air a needle valve control I8 is provided, adjustment of which controls the speed at which the table lifts. In the Wall of the valve housing l5, intermediate the ends o1 the stroke of the valve .member i4, .there .is provided a plurality of morts i9 radiating as an annular series from the interior of said valve housing l5, said ports leading to an annular duct 20 surrounding said series and connecting with a conduit 2l leading to the cylinder of :pressure ram 22 which operate to eievate the ftahi'a-'wfiren it is in position beneath the press head.'

The cani surface 3 is provide'dwithza pai-r "of diametrically opposite arcuate recesses 23, 2.3 into line in'Feures i i2, uncovers the yports IB 4'and connects fthe ram 'cylinder 2'2 with the pressure supply 'and' ythe table "is iifted into contact with vthe press head for the ,pressing operation. This l'condition pertains until lthe 'pressing operation is completed whereupon the 'operator depressies the *foot ,'pedal '10 'which actionl depresses the tappe't n and 'moves the Vahle memher M down thevahfe housirm` f5 to the 'position 'show-n by broken unes in Figure in *this kposi-tion 'the compressed yair supply is out to the Ytaule 'ram '-22 'and the residua?. presmire in -the ram lcyl-im'ier 'is led 'ed 'to 'exhaust via the :same ports +9 through exhaust flutes Hi which may conveniently he formed in 'the guide* way '25 yfor the vailve 'spindle i3. 'When *iil'ietable is free "from the press head theoperator turns `or rotates the tables `vto karine theother 'tahle beneath the press head `and this movement .moves the recess i25- trornbeneath the roiier now res' upon the cam surface 3 and the operator can reiease the foot medal' fi t and the cycle once :more repeated.

.Riefemimg'iteiigure -18 thus drawing @chews a slightly modified form of control unit. iIn 'lthis construction the vaine spindle 'it has a hollow bore #3a to which `aanstuurticat'iun 'is madefait 'two positions :by radial :ports it L the posi- 'on .shawn which is the exhaust position the Yco'rlt .29 Awhich 'lead-s to the ktable ram is .cenn'ected :centre here 25 by .the ports 2 E fand the *residual pressure exhausted via .the radial ports 22S to 'an ,h

annular -tiuct r2.9 connected to exhaust @n relief of pressure =on :the head of the I3 Ithe walvememiber it is moved under the actioniof fthe compressed zair supply :to the intuition fshownin line. .'Ihis fdisoonnects 4the )part .28 from the eihaustand connects-the port the zum pressed fair supply.-

This valve is shown applied to a rotary twin table laundry press in Figure 4. In this construction the roller 4 follows a cam surface on the edge of the collar 2, corresponding recesses 23 being provided. In this construction a pivoted two- .arzn .laver .29 is employed .carrying the .roller on Iune Tarin and va tappet eiwonitlre either avm which tappet 'bears against the spindle 13. "This arm carries a lug 3| to which a link 35 is pivoted and 'is connected to the foot lever. The exhaust from the :rath eylinder :is led off through an exhaust battle ii. ".flllfieropcration of this pressure is exactly fthe same as that ef the press shown in Figures 1 .andi

What I v'cla'ini is:

. im :n Pfiuid pressure operated rotary or turret Jlemndry press, a fluid control valve mechanism comprising a Valve member adapted to be reciprocated, a valve :housing containing said valve member reciprocably therein, said valve housing having aiiuid pressure supply jportaind a huid pressure exhaust port leading-trito Athe heus- 'ing Anext opposite fen-d portions *thereof 'and 'hav- 'ing 'an intermediate port rand conduit connected thereto. "an operating ram cylinder thereior nl .sa-id press, the said conduit leading to satdram cylinder, said vahre member fa'rrd *ports heine :so positionedwithjrespect to A'each other that fthe said member is fcjonstantiy urged to 'one end or its stroke by the (uuid pressure medi-um to place the 'intermediate por't in communication with the supply port for mpplying *hind pressure medium to 'the ram cylinder, manually operable means i'for moving said'va'lve member to y.the other end'oits stroke against *the Apressure "ci *the huid medium to place. the intermediate port "rn 'communication `with the 'exhaust port whereby `the vram #cylinder "is connected to exhaust, 'and means aetua'ted lrotation cf the press adapted also to `rrrove the valve member to lsaid other end yof vits stroke 'and to 'render r-inerective the `saine manuafiy opera-ble means. l

EtGNnLD PERCY Yfirlf Reerekces -Cite fthe ifill? 4 "UNITED STATES 

